The majority of probiotics on the market contain combination formulas of both lactobacillus, bifidobacteria and in some cases other strains.

There is a vastly increasing amount of scientific evidence pointing to the benefits of probiotics and the importance of the gut microbiome. However, for certain individuals the traditional lactobacillus probiotics are not well tolerated. Some theories exist that D-lactate that is produced by the L. acidophilus, is not metabolized as it should be. This may lead to symptoms including air hunger or the sensation that you are not getting enough oxygen when breathing in. For these individuals a Bifidobacterium probiotic may be the answer to balancing intestinal and overall health.

Some of the conditions that may predispose one to lack of tolerance of lactobacillus species probiotics include:

• Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) – where there is an overgrowth of flora in the small intestine including lactobacillus and additional lactobacillus makes the situation worse.
• Histamine Intolerance – histamine is a normal chemical released by mast cells during allergic responses. In those with histamine intolerance, histamine accumulates in the body due to a deficiency of the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) which normally breaks histamine down leading to various symptoms. Histamine also accumulates in the body from high histamine containing foods and is produced by certain gut bacteria. The general consensus is that Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus bulgaricus are histamine-producing bacteria and should be avoided if histamine is a concern. On the other hand, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus plantarum may be beneficial for histamine intolerance because they can degrade histamines.
• D-lactate Sensitivity – certain individuals have a difficulty metabolizing excess D-lactate in the gut. Probiotic species produce different acids in their fermentation process. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum are two species which produce high D-lactate. It is thought that increased intestinal permeability, or leaky gut, must be present for D-lactate to become a problem. If these probiotics cause brain fog or chronic fatigue syndrome-like symptoms, it may be due to excess D-lactate absorbed from the gut.

HMF Bifido Powder offers six proprietary Bifidobacteria strains to support probiotic colonization in the large intestine.¹ 

• Bifidobacteriaare normally present in the gut from birth to old age, where they play an important role in gastrointestinal health.²
• Bifidobacteria help to mediate carbohydrate fermentation in the large intestine and contribute to the production of important short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate and lactate.³ 
• Although they are the most abundant genus present in the guts of healthy infants, Bifidobacteriaconcentrations decrease as individuals age, with greatest declines observed in the elderly.² 
• Clinical research suggests that Bifidobacteriasupplementation can promote a healthy gut flora composition and support gastrointestinal health.³
• HMF Bifido Powder provides highly researched probiotic strains such as Bl-04, along with CUL-34 and CUL-20, which have been demonstrated in clinical trials to contribute to a favourable gut flora.^4-6